The meeting opened with a discussion about the withdrawal of Candidate A, who declined the police chief position due to salary disagreements. This development prompted the council to rethink its approach to the remaining candidates, B and C. The salary offered for the police chief role was notably lower than what candidates were earning in their current positions, highlighting a broader issue of financial constraints within the city’s budget.

The council debated whether to proceed with the remaining candidates or to delay the search until spring. Some members expressed a preference for waiting, citing concerns about the suitability of Candidates B and C. One participant voiced skepticism about Candidate B’s readiness for the role. Similarly, Candidate C’s potential lifestyle adjustments were flagged as a potential issue.

The possibility of appointing an interim chief was also considered, given the uncertainty surrounding the current candidates. While some members recalled positive past experiences with interim chiefs, others were cautious about finding a temporary candidate who would not seek the permanent position later.

To address these concerns, the council agreed to conduct a leadership assessment for Candidates B and C. This assessment, estimated to cost a few thousand dollars, was viewed as a necessary investment to ensure the right hiring decision. It was argued that spending on the assessment could prevent the costly mistake of hiring an unsuitable candidate. The council hoped to receive the assessment results by early December, facilitating a timely decision.

In addition to the police chief hiring discussion, the council addressed discrepancies found in the canvassing of the 2024 election results. A council member noted that election figures reported on Election Night differed from those updated later in the week. Although these discrepancies did not impact local races, they altered the outcomes in the O River School District and the St. Cloud representative race, where the vote margin changed drastically. As a result, a manual recount was scheduled for those districts to ensure accuracy, despite not meeting the typical recount threshold.